Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Canadian War Museum to webcast the illumination in Memorial Hall


For the fourth year in a row, the Canadian War Museum is webcasting the illumination of the headstone representing Canada's Unknown Soldier. 

To view the illumination, go to http://www.warmuseum.ca/remember#webcast

While you are at the site, listen to Tim Cook, Canadian War Museum historian, talk about the lasting impact of the First World War on Canada.

CBC will live broadcast the event from the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Canadian Week in Review - 10 November 2014

I have come across the following Canadian websites, social media websites, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.


Social Media

(Blog) 120th birthday of William George Barker, Canadian flying ace and Victoria Cross recipient
   November 3rd marked the 120th anniversary of the birth of William George Barker, Canadian First World War flying ace and Victoria Cross recipient.
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(Photos) From trenches and beyond: Six books illuminate Canadian military history
   Six books have been released by Canadian authors detailing Canada’s role in military conflicts from the War of 1812 to the First World War.
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(Video) WATCH: Former Canadian senator donates piece of WWI history to Okanagan Military Museum
   It was a momentous day for the Okanagan Military Museum Thursday as they welcomed a new piece of history into their collection.
   Just days before Remembrance Day, Senator Ross Fitzpatrick and his family donated a set of World War I medals to the museum.
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(Photos) Letters from First World War soldiers posted online through U of M project
   One Manitoba soldier named Fred Baragar was particularly prolific in his writing. He had studied English at the University of Manitoba, and wrote hundreds and hundreds of pages to home, most addressed “from the somewhere.”

Newfoundland

Author traces Newfoundland regiment's path 100 years later
   Michael Winter takes us along the winding path the men of the Newfoundland Regiment followed during the First World War. Winter's book, Into the Blizzard: Walking with the Newfoundland Dead, is part history, part travelogue, and part author's musings on how our modern minds contemplate the past.

Quebec

Half of Canadians learned 'a lot' about WW2 in high school: poll 
   The results of the Leger survey contradict longstanding concerns that we've largely forgotten our military history.

Ontario

Conservatives support NDP bill to make Remembrance Day a national holiday
   The Conservative government is throwing its support behind an NDP private member’s bill that would make Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday, as Canadians mourn the death of two Canadian soldiers killed in separate attacks on home soil.

Fighting in Flanders - Gas. Mud. Memory: New exhibition explores Canadian experience in Belgium during First World War
   This exhibition examines the challenges Canadian soldiers encountered while serving in the last region of Belgium still in Allied hands. It also delves into the memories that remain and highlights the iconic poem In Flanders Fields.

Untold 'story of ‘bravery': Heritage Minute chronicles Winnipeg Falcons, torn apart by WWI and reunited in pursuit of Olympic gold 
   Heritage Minute has created more than 70 short films on moments and characters taken from history. Many vignettes have become ingrained in memory — either from their content or from the frequency with which they run on Canadian television — and have emerged as a sort of national history teacher.

Honouring heroes with a history 
   The Montreal native and Brockville resident has a basement full of books and other information, scores of photographs and other memorabilia, documenting the Second World War and Korean War. 
   He is currently assisting in providing information for a revised history for his Second World War regiment, the Royal Regiment of Canada.

The Alton Mill’s contribution to Canada's efforts during the Second World War 
   During the Second World War, Canada contributed nearly $10 billion in manufactured goods towards the Allied effort.

It’s really a hometown story': John McCrae honoured in Guelph 
   Every year on Nov. 11, Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” is recited as Canadians remember those lost in the line of duty and honour those who continue to serve. 
   The poem continues to resonate in Canada and Britain on Remembrance Day. On Thursday, a ceremony took place to honour McCrae in his hometown of Guelph, Ontario.

Manitoba

Manitoba soldier’s remains identified 96 years after WWI death
   Private Sidney Halliday, who lived on a farm near Minto, Manitoba before shipping off, has been identified as one of the soldiers whose remains were found in Hallu, France, in 2006.

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon to unveil war memorial honouring WWI soldiers 
   On Thursday at the City Archives, Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison will be unveiling a World War Book of Remembrance that documents every solider from Saskatoon and student at the University of Saskatchewan who enlisted and died while engaged in combat from 1914 to 1918.

Alberta

Flags of Remembrance fly in central Alberta 
   In the brisk October air of early morning on a dark highway in central Alberta, a quiet group of men and women stood sentinel alongside 116 Canadian flags waving in the breeze in remembrance of 116,000 Canadian war dead from 1900 to 2014.

11 Days of Remembrance: A salute to the history of salutes 
   Showing the public your palm in a salute goes all the way back to knights.
   “It started with knights raising their visor and saying ‘I have no weapons in my hand’,” said Capt. (retired) Jason Watt, South Alberta Light Horse regiment.

11 Days of Remembrance: Citizens of Burdett fought hard in First World War
   When the call came to fight for King and Country, small rural communities in Alberta were on side, perhaps accounting for proportionately more soldiers than larger towns and cities, because of their close ties to Britain, says a historian.

Story of the Week


The Archives of Ontario is offering a New WWI Speakers Series

The first speaker, Jane E. MacNamara from the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS), will talk about Inheritance Interrupted: WWI reflected in Ontario Estate Files. The date of her talk will be Thursday, November 13, 2014.

The Great War cut short many lives and disrupted the expected passing of property and goods to the next generation. Laws were changed, society changed, the world changed. Drawing from estate files from across the province; this presentation will show examples of these changes and demonstrate how reading between the lines and understanding the process and implications of inheritance records can enhance family and local history—in any era.

The second speaker will be Stewart Boden, Outreach Officer & Exhibit Curator, Archives of Ontario, and the title of the talk will be Curating Dear Sadie: Love, Lives and Remembrance from Ontario’s First World War, from the current AO's onsite exhibit of the same name, which he researched and curated.

 The date of the talk will be Thursday, February 5, 2015, 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm.

Through Stewart’s presentation, the audience will hear about challenges that came from researching the Archives records, and taking different paths while curating the exhibit.

The series will be held in the George Spragge Classroom at the Archives of Ontario.

Admission is free, and a tour will be given of the new exhibit.

You can register online at http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/about/speaker_series.aspx

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in the country!

The next post will be on 17 November 2014.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Part I: The Canadian War Record Office

The Canadian Light Horse going into action at Vimy Ridge, April 1917
Reference Number: IKAN 3194785, 3624863
Credit: William Ivor Castle. Canada. Department of National Defence. Library and Archives Canada, PA-001111

The Library and Archives Canada recently sent out this press release, stating that its people have been busy cleaning up some famous photos taken of the First World War, for instance, the two most famous one photos that we all know as “Going over the Top” and the “29th Battalion advancing over No Man’s Land during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.”
“They have been made more accessible to Canadians by enhancing their descriptions through thematic organization in the online database. This has been part of a much larger project to organize and describe the entire Department of National Defence’s photograph collection at LAC to ensure that the records are accurate, complete and accessible to the public. When the war began in 1914, most photographers and journalists were ordered away from the front. The First Canadian Division entered the European war theatre the following year. Finally, in 1916, millionaire press baron Max Aitken was granted permission to start the Canadian War Records Office (CWRO) and it became Canada’s ‘eyewitness to war’ sending reports home from the front. Soon, these reports were also accompanied by photographs and paintings.”
To see LAC’s Flickr photo set entitled “Canada and the First World War”, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157622565188207/

Saturday, November 8, 2014

FREE Access to Ancestry.ca and FindMyPast


Recently, Ancestry.ca took a survey, with the results showing that 36% of Canadians didn’t know if they had ancestors who fought in either the First or Second World War.

In an effort to help rectify this, from November 8 to 11, Ancestry is giving Canadians the chance to discover the military heroes in their family by providing free access to more than 3.6 million online military records at http://www.ancestry.ca/cs/ca/world-war-1?o_iid=63120&o_lid=63120&o_sch=Web+Property.

This year, Remembrance Day is especially poignant for those with ancestors who fought during the First World War, as 2014 marks the 100th Anniversary of the start of the conflict.

And if your Canadian ancestor was from Britain, which many were, FindMyPast is also offering free access to you this weekend.
“To commemorate Veterans weekend, from today until 7am on Monday (EST) our records are FREE to access. If you’ve already got a World subscription, we’ll credit your account with 3 extra days. 
There’s never been a better time to explore your family history and bring your past to life.”

Postscript:  Wayne Macvicar from Cape Breton has written to say that he has just completed an update to his Cape Bretoners in World War One website at https://sites.google.com/site/cbinww1/.
“The site now includes enlistments to the end of 1915. It contains an additional 557 individuals for a total of 2732. The time between updates this time has been exceptionally long due to the increasing amount of information going online, in particular Library and Archives Canada, which I am trying to include in my database. Hopefully the next update will come much sooner. The website is still limited to a nominal roll and chronology but in time I hope to include as much detail as I can find on each individual. I invite everyone to have a look at my site and if they have any information they would like to share to fill out the form I have provided on my general Cape Bretoners at War site <https://sites.google.com/site/cbatwar/>.”
If you have additional information, you can write to Wayne at cbww2@seaside.ns.ca

Reminder: Each year, GenealogyCanada sponsors a contest, and this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the question is – Which province in Canada sent the largest number of men and women to fight in the First World War?

Send your answer to genealogyresearch@aol.com

Hint: You will find the answer in this week’s Canadian Week in Review post at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/11/canadian-week-in-review-03-november-2014.html

I am offering the winner of the contest a detailed research consultation report on an ancestor who fought for Canada in the Great War, or who was involved in the war effort.

The winner will be announced November 12th.

    Friday, November 7, 2014

    OGS First World War Heritage Society

    Credit: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1983-28-826

    To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, OGS has launched a new Heritage Society. The First World War Society is a lineage Society open to anyone who can show direct descent from a person who served in a documented capacity on the Allied side of the First World War.

    To qualify for this Society, your research must show that your named ancestor(s) fits in the category above, and then show the line of descent from that ancestor(s) to you or the person you wish named on the certificate.

    For more information and an application form, visit the Heritage Societies area on the OGS website http://www.ogs.on.ca/heritage_societies.php#WW1

    And here is a heartwarming story —

    It is how social media is being used so that Canadian flags can be placed on soldier’s graves in Italy.


    And they have a Facebook page called Flag from Home at

    Reminder: Each year, GenealogyCanada sponsors a contest, and this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the question is – Which province in Canada sent the largest number of men and women to fight in the First World War?

    Send your answer to genealogyresearch@aol.com

    Hint: You will find the answer in this week’s Canadian Week in Review http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/11/canadian-week-in-review-03-november-2014.html

    I am offering the winner of the contest a detailed research consultation report on an ancestor who fought for Canada in the Great War, or who was involved in the war effort.

    The winner will be announced November 12th.

    Thursday, November 6, 2014

    Canada - Strong, Proud and Free!


    From November 5 to November 11th, and for the fourth year running, GenealogyCanada is showcasing Veterans’ Week.

    It is an opportunity for all Canadians to recognize the contribution that our veterans have made, and to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Canada.

    Here are some ways to mark your remembrance -

    • You can buy and wear a poppy
    • You can attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11th
    • You can talk to a friend or relative who served with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan or in other areas of conflict.

    You can watch the Heroes Remember videos and listen to veterans talk about their experiences at http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/heroes-remember

    Each year, GenealogyCanada sponsors a contest, and this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the question is – Which province in Canada sent the largest number of men and women to fight in the First World War?

    Hint: You will find the answer in this week’s Canadian Week in Review http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2014/11/canadian-week-in-review-03-november-2014.html

    I am offering the winner of the contest a detailed research consultation report on an ancestor who fought for Canada in the Great War, or who was involved in the war effort.

    The winner will be announced November 12th.

    Good luck to all!

    Tuesday, November 4, 2014

    Canadian Week in Review - 03 November 2014


    I have come across the following Canadian websites, social media websites, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

    History Week in Canada (October 28 – November 03, 2014)

    In 1899, the first 1,300 Canadian troops left Quebec City to fight with the British in the Boer War in South Africa.

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    In 1915, Sir Charles Tupper, the last surviving Father of Confederation, died in England at age 94. He took part in the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London conferences, and was prime minister for a short period in 1896.

    To read a short history of Charles Tupper, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Tupper

    Nova Scotia

    WWI propaganda posters on display at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
    http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1246895-wwi-propaganda-posters-on-display-at-art-gallery-of-nova-scotia
    Vivid, colourful posters urged Canadians to enlist or put money into victory bonds.

    New Brunswick

    Hope Restored announced as theme for Heritage Week 2015
    The theme for Heritage Week 2015 will be Hope Restored, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Canada’s national flag, as well as the 50th anniversary of New Brunswick’s provincial flag.

    Quebec

    (Press Release) Gilmour Hill to Be Open Year-Round
    Gilmour Hill is a 1.1-kilometre steeply sloped path running through Battlefields Park between Champlain Boulevard and Québec's Upper Town. Built around 1910, the road was not designed for winter travel.

    Ontario

    Shaw Media to Honour Canada's Veterans
    This November, Shaw Media commemorates 100 Years of Remembrance with a commercial-free hour-long live Global News special on Remembrance Day, and four days of special programming on the HISTORY Channel.

    C.P. Champion: How the Crimean War of 1853 helped shaped the Canada of today
    It was the world’s first “media war,” with extensive reporting on the battles, and therefore quite interesting to follow in the newspapers. Thousands of Canadians did exactly that.

    Stratford, Ontario cenotaph gets security cameras to curb vandalism
    City officials have installed three security cameras at the cenotaph in this southern Ontario town to help curb vandalism at the site.

    Manitoba


    Students learn about Canada's history, people at city cemetery
    Go along with the students of Iyvan Michalchyshynès social studies class as they tour a cemetery in the city.

    Ancient Thule site in northern Manitoba still used by Kivalliq Inuit
    Because of the abundance of animals, Hubbard Point, as it’s known in English, is a popular hunting ground and stopping point for Inuit on the west coast of Hudson Bay, an eight-hour boat ride south of Arviat, and just north of Churchill, in northern Manitoba.

    Saskatchewan

    Remembering WW II: new television series about Sask. vets premieres
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/remembering-ww-ii-new-television-series-about-sask-vets-premieres-1.2816067
    World War II veterans gathered at the provincial legislature on Tuesday for the premiere of a video series documenting a special part of Saskatchewan and Canadian history.

    Walking With Our Sisters installation opening in Saskatoon
    More than 1,700 beaded moccasin tops representing missing and murdered indigenous women at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

    Top 10 historic Canadian moments
    http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Local/2014-10-26/article-3916768/Top-10-historic-Canadian-moments/1Canada has had its fair share of attention-grabbing moments, with many of them etched into the memories of Canadians far beyond when they occurred.

    New memorial near Saskatoon honours First World War internees
    On Tuesday, that daughter, 69-year-old Pat Mialkowsky, helped helped unveil a plaque at the Saskatchewan Railway Museum commemorating the 8,579 Western Canadians of Eastern European and German descent who were interned during and after the First World War. A larger concrete memorial will replace it in the spring.

    Alberta

    11 Days of Remembrance: Citizens of Burdett fought hard in First World War
    When the call came to fight for King and Country, small rural communities in Alberta were on side, perhaps accounting for proportionately more soldiers than larger towns and cities, because of their close ties to Britain, says a historian.

    British Columbia


    Spy who intercepted Nazi communications retired to Saltspring Island
    Records released by the British National Archives reveal the identity of the spy code-named Jack King as Eric Roberts, an unassuming banker who retired and came to Canada in 1956. He died on the island in 1972 at the age of 65.

    Story of the Week




    Veterans' Week

    Just a reminder that I will be featuring Veterans' Week (November 5 to November 11th) on the blog from November 5 to November 11th, as I have done for the past three years.

    Please use the blog archives link on the right side of this blog - choose the year, month, and day you wish to view the post. Here are links to a few of the archived postings -
    This year is special since it honours the men and women who served in the First World War.

    To get us started, I will be offering a contest which will involve your direct line Canadian ancestor who was involved in the First World War.

    You will, of course, have to answer a skill-testing question which will appear November 5th.

    For more on Veterans' Week in Canada, please visit http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance and http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/get-involved/remembrance-day

    Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in the country!

    The next post will be on 10 November 2014.